Cherokee County, Alabama: commercial real estate data.
Cherokee County, Alabama had an estimated 26,138 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 24,984, across 554 square miles. County output reached $796.7 m in 2024, 391 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 12 7(a) approvals worth $7.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cherokee County
How many people live in Cherokee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202425,443
- Households10,192
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$53,863
- Median age47.5
- Median gross rent$762 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$179,700
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over19,019
- Population under 184,726
- Share under 1818.6 percent
- Population 65 and over6,220
- Share 65 and over24.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6414,497
- Civilian labor force10,408
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over50.2 percent
- Rank by population among Alabama counties40th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1640th of 3,222
Cherokee County is the 40th largest of 67 Alabama counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.4 percent against 18.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cherokee County
Is Cherokee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202426,138
- Census 2020 base population24,984
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.62 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024438
- Births, 2024194
- Deaths, 2024427
- Natural change, 2024-233
- Net domestic migration, 2024602
- Net international migration, 202465
- Total net migration, 2024667
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,820
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents591st of 3,144
The county has grown 4.62 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cherokee County
Where are people moving to Cherokee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving695
- People arriving, from those returns1,319
- Tax returns filed by households leaving515
- Net household movement180
- Adjusted gross income arriving$40.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$18.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$58,778
- Average income of a leaving household$43,025
- Largest single originFloyd County (89 households)
- Largest single destinationEtowah County (75 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd County | 89 | 160 | $5.7 m |
| Etowah County | 71 | 130 | $3.1 m |
| DeKalb County | 62 | 138 | $2.9 m |
| Calhoun County | 58 | 115 | $2.6 m |
| Chattooga County | 26 | 62 | $964,000 |
| Paulding County | 26 | 70 | $1.9 m |
| Polk County | 22 | 46 | $1.5 m |
Households arriving report $15,753 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Floyd County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cherokee County
What is the Cherokee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$796.7 m
- County GDP, 2023$751.2 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.1 percent
- GDP change over five years40.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Alabama areas BEA publishes47th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2030th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$31,311
Output grew 6.1 percent in the latest year and 40.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cherokee County
Employment by industry in Cherokee County
- Covered employment, annual average5,352
- Establishments reporting498
- Average annual pay$44,658
- Average weekly wage$859
- Retail trade, employment942
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,843
- Manufacturing, employment689
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$59,349
- Accommodation and food services, employment486
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,477
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment295
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$37,270
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment187
- Wholesale trade, employment152
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 942 | 88 | $34,843 |
| Manufacturing | 689 | 30 | $59,349 |
| Accommodation and food services | 486 | 34 | $17,477 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 295 | 14 | $37,270 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 187 | 17 | $42,493 |
| Wholesale trade | 152 | 18 | $52,774 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 125 | 9 | $13,379 |
| Other services, except public administration | 124 | 24 | $30,397 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 942 jobs, 17.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cherokee County
How many businesses are in Cherokee County?
- Establishments, all industries391
- Employment at those establishments4,338
- Annual payroll$167.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cherokee County
Building permits in Cherokee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202439
- Declared construction value permitted$5.0 m
- Single family units authorized39
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$127,033
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.8
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cherokee County
SBA loans in Cherokee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded12
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$601,833
- Median 7(a) approval$408,000
- Largest single approval$2,650,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)163
- Jobs per approval13.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active7
- Distinct industries receiving approvals10
- Median 7(a) term126 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer25.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter6
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals8.3 percent
- Most active lenderPeoples Bank of Alabama (4)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.0 m
- Average 504 approval$426,286
- Median 504 approval$245,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.4
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$10.2 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cherokee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cherokee County
Do SBA loans in Cherokee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
- Status: Cancelled4
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cherokee County
SBA lending by place in Cherokee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Centre, approvals7
- Gaylesville, approvals2
- Cedar Bluff, approvals2
- Leesburg, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Centre | 7 | $4,635,000 |
| Gaylesville | 2 | $1,521,000 |
| Cedar Bluff | 2 | $961,000 |
| Leesburg | 1 | $105,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cherokee County
How large is Cherokee County?
- Land area554 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Alabama counties66th of 67
- Width, east to west25.4 mi
- Height, north to south40.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land46
- Establishments per square mile0.71
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cherokee County
Flood risk in Cherokee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Cherokee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 010234
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Cherokee County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Cherokee County (community 010234), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Cherokee County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Cherokee County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cherokee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202425,443
- Households10,192
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$53,863
- Median age47.5
Common questions
Cherokee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cherokee County, Alabama?
The Census Bureau estimates 26,138 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 25,443, in 10,192 households, ranking 40th of 67 Alabama counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cherokee County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.62 percent since the 2020 census base of 24,984, to 26,138 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 194 births against 427 deaths, with net migration of 667. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
$53,863. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $179,700, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $762 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cherokee County?
391 establishments, employing 4,338 people with an annual payroll of $167.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cherokee County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 942 jobs, 17.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,352 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,658, or $859 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cherokee County?
12 7(a) approvals totaling $7.2 m since FY2020, across 7 lenders, with a median approval of $408,000, plus 7 504 approvals worth $3.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Cherokee County?
39 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $5.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cherokee County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cherokee County come from?
The largest single origin is Floyd County, with 89 households. Arriving households report an average income of $58,778 against $43,025 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cherokee County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cherokee County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Cherokee County
Cities and places in Cherokee.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cherokee County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | city | 3,700 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Cedar Bluff | town | 1,629 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Leesburg | town | 998 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Sand Rock | town | 868 | None recorded | 96.1 percent here, 3.9 percent DeKalb County |
| Broomtown | CDP | 279 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Garden | CDP | 201 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gaylesville | town | 151 | 2 | Wholly in this county |